Window construction



Oct. 23, 1951 F. R. EICHNER 2,572,124

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14, 194e 3 sheets-smeet 1 Oct. 23, 1951 F. R. ElcHNER 2,572,124

Y WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14, 1946 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @woe/nto@ Oct 23, 1951 F. R. EICHNER WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1946 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 .1

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Ferdinand R. Eichner, Pontiac, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delawarey Application June 14, 1946,v serial No. 676,713

This invention relates to an improved window construction especially adapted for use with mass transportation vehicles. It .deals with simplication and economy in manufacture as well as ease of replacement and elimination of the need for precisely tted parts and complicated fastenings as has heretofore been called for with sliding sash installations to afford secure and rattleproof mountings.

'-Y'I'he invention can be better explained by reierence to the attached drawings in which Fig'- ure 1 is an elevation ofr a complete window'assembly-*as viewed-from the exterior of a passenger coach; Figure 2 is a similar view from the interior with a window sash in partly opened position; Figure 3 is a .detail section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an interior elevation of a portion of the assembly to illustrate the start of an emergency disassembly operation; Figures 5 and 6 are details showing the adjoining ends of a split runner frame in separated and interlocked relations, respectively; Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views on a large scale from the interior and exterior, respectively.

The two window sashes numbered I and 2 are similar to conventional structures already in use and are arranged to slide one behind the other to half open the window opening in the side wall of the body 3 beside a passenger seat and provide vision throughout the whole of the opening. Either the forward or the rearward closure sashes may be fixed or both may be arranged to slide for Ventilation purposes. In fully closed position the vertical center sash bars overlap and the space between them is sealed by abutting rubber weather stripping 4 carried on the adjacent faces of the sash bars, as illustrated in Figure 3. For locking the sliding sash 2 closed the operating handle 5 xed to the end vertical bar has pivotally mounted thereon a Weighted thumb actuated latch lever 6 to hook on a pin 'I staked in the sash assembly frame.

Each Window sash is by preference made of lightweight sheet metal so as to have an inwardly facing channel to receive a transparent pane of glass or the like and also with a peripheral channel or groove extending throughout the end and both sides or top and bottom sash bars. If desired both sets of oppositely facing channels may be lined with a resilient waterproofing and antirattle facing material in accordance with usual custom. Fitted to the peripheral sash grooves are a pair of runner rails 8 and 9 arranged in tandem spaced relation and each comprising a at metal strip formed into a rectangular frame 4 Claims. (01.7189-64) or split ring with Aits opposite ends brought into abutmentV in one of the horizontal portions of the vframe and preferably interlocked one with another by a dovetail tongue and groove conl nection, as seen in Figures 5 and 6. The interlocking ends when separated allow them to be spread appart laterally so that the split runner frame may be received or threaded into the slide grooves of the top and bottom sash bars to complete the subassembly of sliding sash and frame.

The two framesare located within the window opening of the body and held in spaced tandem relation by being peripherally pocketed'within the circumferentially extended grooves of a mounting strip I0 of rubber or other similar nonmetallic elastic deformable material. When so positioned the sides of the rubber grooves will among other things prevent lateral separation of the dovetail end connection of the slide rails. The mounting strip in turn is mounted in the Window opening by straddling the circumferentially and inwardly projecting flange II forming the rim or boundary of the window opening and extending t into the rubber mounting strip I Il in a plane parallel to and between the planes occupied by the runner strips 8 and 9. The mounting strip III encircles the window opening as a continuous single length with opposite ends brought into abutment. Its deformability accommodates slight inaccuracies in manufacture and eliminates the need for precise manufacture and Yfurthermore its elasticity provides a floating support for the window assembly to cushion shocks and rattles. Wedging strips I2 and I3 are inserted and formed for interlocking engagement within side grooves in the mounting strip and impose a compressive force on the material to cause it tightly to hug the slide rails 8 and 9 for a secure anchorage. As an emergency safety factor in the event it becomes necessary to remove the window, especially under unusual conditions, to gain entrance or exit should the entrance door be blocked it is proposed to fit ai pull ring and sleeve I4 to both or either the inside or the outside Wedge strips I2 and I3 so that a sharp jerk on the pull ring I4 will break the interlock and start dislodgment of the Wedging strip, as shown in Figure 4. Upon complete removal of the Wedging strip the hold of the rubber mounting strip with reference to the window slides and the body will be less secure and capable of more readily yielding to force imposed on the Windows to push them out of the window opening for free access through the opening and either into or out of the passenger coach. Obviously there may be substituted for the separately formed pull ring I4 a pull tab integral with the Wedging strip..

In that part of the outermost slide rail 9 which projects above the lower horizontal length or sill of the rubber strip l there should be provided at about the level of the rubber surface one or more drain holes I consisting either of longitudinal slots orL circular openings as a matter of choice. These drain holes will run 01T any collection of water during rainy weather.

I claim:

1. In combination, a body having `a Window opening bounded by a circumferential flange, a connector strip of elastic deformable 'nonmetallic material tted to said `ange and provided with spaced circumferential grooves, a pair of runner strips received partly withinsaid grooves and projected partly beyond said connector strip and a pair of Window sashes cooperating -`tdclese said window opening and having peripheral grooves to ride Yon said runner strips.

2.1m a -sliding Window construction, .a .body having `an opening bounded by a circumferential flange, a pair of window sashes for closing `the opening, a pair of annular runners arranged -in tandem, one for each window sash and lprojected into peripheral grooves in the Window sashes, and a rubber connector embracing vboth said runners and said circumferential ange as a sealing joint and support therebetween.

3. In a sliding Window construction, -a lbody having an opening bounded by a circumferential flange, 'a .pai-r of window sashes `for closing the 4 opening and being arranged to slide one behind the other, a pair of annnular guide runners arranged in tandem relation to one another and in juxtaposed relation to said circumferential flange, each guide runner and its associated window sash having a tongue and groove sliding connection and a rubber mounting strip having locating grooves receiving both said guide runners :and said circumeferential ange.

4. In a construction of the character described, azfpair of spaced runners, a slidable sash engaged .at .oppositesides by said runners, a body having Va Window opening provided with a mounting ,flange in closely 'spaced relation with each runner and :elastic deformable connector means occupying `'the space between and joining said ange and said .runners and having locating grooves to embraceably receive flange and runner marginal portions.

FERDINAND R, EICHNER.

REFERENCES CITED The `follov'ving references are of record yin `|'the file 'of 'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name ADate 2,091,036 Glaser r Aug. 24, 1.937 2,107,773 Axe Feb. -8, 1938- ,2,114,896 Axe A- Apr. 1-9, 1938 2,116,754 Edwardset al.r e1-.-.May 10, :1938 k2,189,137 Eichner r Feb. 6,V 1940 2,189,133 Eichner Y Feb. 6, 1940 

